However, the figure skater has an incredible back-story beyond the recent row – first learning to skate at just four years old after being discovered in a public ice rink.

Reliving her rise to stardom, the skater – who won the ITV skating competition with Jake Quickenden last year – tells Mandy.com that a Russian coach "immediately saw potential" in her after spotting her at a public skating session, and offered to train her up.

Vanessa Bauer was scouted by a skating coach aged four (Image: vanessabauer_skates/Instagram)

While her parents had never been able to afford skating lessons, this incredible opportunity helped Vanessa to get where she is today.

"Everything started off as a fun hobby," she reminisces. "I was just really lucky that my coach wanted to teach me skating because she saw my potential."

The "hobby" soon turned into something far more serious as Vanessa was accepted into an elite school for the best athletes in Germany, where she trained hard alongside her studies.

Vanessa's training didn't stop at skating either - as in order to perfect the skills needed to dazzle on the ice, she was also given ballet training, and took part in athletics, running and acrobatics workshops.

Still only in her teenage years, she then begun competing alongside professional skating partner Nolan Seegert, and it didn't take long before they were crowned the national junior pair's champions in 2013's German Figure Skating Championships.

However, it was when Vanessa left the competitive world that she found fame on Dancing On Ice.

Skating on a ship in the Caribbean, in a show called Harmony Of The Seas, Vanessa ended up chatting to a co-star about the upcoming re-launch of the Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield fronted show, and they advised her to apply.

Things could have been very different for the skating star, though, as she almost didn't make it in front of producers.

"I could not come to England for live audition which is why I almost did not get the chance to introduce myself," she recalls.

"However luckily they decided to fly all the way to Florida to come and see me in person! I will be forever grateful for that decision!"

After travelling all the way to the states to see her in action, bosses quickly snapped Vanessa up – and her decision to join the popular ITV show has certainly paid off.

She swiftly rose to victory with former X Factor hunk Jake Quickenden, beating Brooke Vincent and Matej Silecky to the post.

Vanessa is now taking part in her second series of the show, and despite recent drama with Wes's girlfriend Megan, she's made it perfectly clear that skating is her priority.

Vanessa Bauer has not spoken out on drama with Wes' girlfriend

Posting pics of the skaters behind-the-scenes at Dancing On Ice, Vanessa did not respond directly to Megan's furious words, but instead made a subtle dig as she told followers she is "truly blessed" to be working with "passionate professionals".

"Wow I am truly blessed to be part of the hard working, talented and passionate professionals @dancingonice fam!", she wrote.

"Huge shoutout to the DOI team for letting us do our thing and shine on the ice in each weeks incredible group routines! I love my job #DancingOnIce #professionals".